Incident
Officer Roy Mardis was accidentally shot and killed by another officer in Mercer County while he and his bloodhound tracked an escapee who had committed a double-murder. He and the bloodhound had tracked the man through a cornfield and as the man ran from the field officers on the perimeter opened fire, accidentally striking Officer Mardis. The suspect Officer Mardis was tracking was apprehended and sentenced to death for the double murder. Officer Mardis had served with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Police Department for 13 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and seven daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-5D1E7087- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Mardis gave the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lexington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Mardis.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Roy Hobson Mardis is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In KY, 161 of 983 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 16.4% of this state's fallen. That is 16.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Lexington-Fayette Urban County Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Roy Hobson Mardis's cause is highlighted.
How Roy Hobson Mardis Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Roy Hobson Mardis is highlighted in Aug.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Lexington-Fayette Urban County Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
